The Defenders - RCAF Defence of Canada's West Coast and Alaska 1939-1945
In honour of the upcoming RCAF Centennial (on 1 April 2024), author Chris Weicht continues to offer his book DEFENDERS at the discounted rate of $35 plus $20 shipping (contact us for bulk purchases and combined shipping rates).
The DEFENDERS was written to tell today’s largely unknown history that the Royal Canadian Air Force played in the defence of Canada’s west coast and Alaska. However, it also tells the history of the foundation of the RCAF at Jericho Beach and the formation of Western Air Command and its difficulty in defending a thousand-mile-long coastline with a handful of obsolescent aircraft.
Preparation for the defence of Canada’s west coast became an increasingly urgent matter, and, in light of the growing concern over Japan’s intentions, earlier warnings took on great significance. From a defence standpoint, the rugged often-inaccessible west coast was now viewed as a liability instead of an asset. The possibility that Canada would become the front line of attack, and a probable invasion point, could no
longer be ignored.
Chris will be speaking about his book at an RCAF Anniversary Mess Dinner on March 30. For information on attending to see his speech, please click here.The Defenders - RCAF Defence of Canada's West Coast and Alaska 1939-1945 is new instalment Chris Weicht's extensive Air Pilot Navigator series about narratives on aviation in western Canada.
Shipped directly from the publisher after your order is placed here.
When Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on December 7, 1941 Canada had been at war with Germany since September 10, 1939 and the Royal Canadian Air Force had fought with distinction in the Battle of Britain.
American President Franklin Delano. Roosevelt named Canada “The Aerodrome of Democracy” after it initiated the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan in 1939 and began training over 130,000-Allied aircrew for service in World War II.
Then, on June 2, 1942 when Japan launched an attack on the US Navy facilities at Dutch Harbour, Alaska, the United States officially appealed for Canada’s help in the defence of the besieged Alaska and its Aleutian Islands, that were under attack and partially occupied by Japanese Air and Naval Forces.
Canada immediately sent 15 Squadrons of battle hardened R.C.A.F. Fighter and Bomber Reconnaissance aircraft, which fought valiantly with the Japanese Mitsubishi Zero and Rufe and Aichi Jake Seaplane fighters, as well as with the atrocious Aleutian weather which together cost many lives.
The Canadian RCAF and Army presence in this Theatre of Operations together with the United States Army Air Force and Naval forces enabled the eviction of the Japanese forces by August 1943.
“The DEFENDERS” tells the story of each RCAF Station or Detachment both in Alaska and on the western most British Columbia Coast
“The DEFENDERS” COMMEMORATES THE CENTENNIAL OF THE RCAF 1924-2024